During his stay as an Artist-in-Residence at the <a href="http://www.nkdale.no/index.html" target="_blank">Nordic Artists' Centre Dalsåsen</a>, mexican architect <a href="http://www.x-studio.tv/" target="_blank">Iván Juárez</a> went about collecting thousands of pine cones to build Inner Forest, the striking cylindrical pavilion you see above. Built from the seeds of the forest, one day the pavilion will return to the earth and replenish the trees they came from. Inner Forest was created by carefully stacking the pine cones to make an enclosure that wraps the viewer in the textures of the forest and directs their view up through the canopy to the sky.

1

Inner Forest-X.Studio

Iván Juárez, founder and principal of Mexican firm, <a href="http://www.x-studio.tv/" target="_blank">x.studio</a> was part of the 2011 A-I-R program at <a href="http://www.nkdale.no/aboutnkd.html" target="_blank">Centre Dalsåsen</a>.

2

Inner Forest-X.Studio

The art center is located on the west coast of Norway where a range of landscapes interconnect. Juárez enjoyed the fjords, forests, the ocean, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains.

3

Inner Forest-X.Studio

His creation then is directly inspired by nature and is a reflection of a connection to the fjords landscape.

4

Inner Forest-X.Studio

His relationship with the environment was the essence of the work.

5

Inner Forest-X.Studio

These seeds of the forest were carefully stacked to make a semi-enclosed cylinder that envelops the viewer in the textures of the forest.

6

Inner Forest-X.Studio

Stepping inside, the pavilion directs the view up and out of the top towards the forest canopy and the sky beyond.

7

Inner Forest-X.Studio

The pavilion is as much about the act of its creation as it is about the final produce. The architect spend time walking through the forest - observing, collecting and reflecting.

8

Inner Forest-X.Studio

Then using the materials of nature, he constructed the structure, which will over time be returned to the earth to bring new life to the forest.

9

1/9

Inner Forest-X.Studio

During his stay as an Artist-in-Residence at the Nordic Artists' Centre Dalsåsen, mexican architect Iván Juárez went about collecting thousands of pine cones to build Inner Forest, the striking cylindrical pavilion you see above. Built from the seeds of the forest, one day the pavilion will return to the earth and replenish the trees they came from. Inner Forest was created by carefully stacking the pine cones to make an enclosure that wraps the viewer in the textures of the forest and directs their view up through the canopy to the sky.